Anti-Cannabis Propaganda: Marijuana Stomach Illness

Over the last week or so there’s been an influx of news outlets “reporting” on a mysterious stomach illness related to heavy marijuana use that is supposedly rising in states that have legal cannabis. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome has been linked to long-term heavy use of cannabis and results in “non-stop nausea and stomach pain that can sometimes last up to a month.” Treatment for this condition includes hot showers and baths.

Based on the reports seen on countless local news stations and even CBS National News, emergency room visits for this condition have risen from about 40 per year to almost 90 at the University of Colorado Hospital. So, it went from about one person per week to just under two.

Before we break this down, I want to make one thing clear. We are not dimensioning the pain and suffering from those who have had this condition. We recognize and respect that a minority of heavy cannabis smokers could develop Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome.

At the same time there is a responsibility of the media and others with a voice to put this condition in it’s proper perspective, rather than exposing us to a anti-cannabis agenda that is being bought and paid for by big pharma.

Out of all the outcomes that result from using cannabis on a daily basis, it would seem that Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome would be one of the worst. On the other hand, let’s take a look at the worst outcome from the overuse of opioids: death. In fact, 33,091 people died from opioid overdoses in 2016 alone. Over the previous millennia there continues to be exactly zero deaths caused by cannabis.

We are comparing these two substances because of their use in the treatment of similar conditions, especially chronic pain.

Now if you put statistics like these side-by-side without the name of each substance and asked which one should be legal, there is no doubt that any reasonable human being would vote in favor of cannabis recognizing the deadly alternative of opioids.

It seems to me that all our efforts should be focused on solving the very real opioid epidemic, and less time writing hit pieces on what could very well be the savior substance for those who fall prey to opioid addiction.